Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection

About the Collection
The Smithsonian Institution began to collect objects related to health and medicine in 1881. It first obtained examples of patent medicines in 1930, acquiring packages of Haarlem Oil (or Dutch Drops), Dr. John Hooper’s Female Pills, and Roche’s Herbal Embrocation. Since then the Smithsonian’s collection of patent medicines has expanded to over 4,000 products, dating from the 19th century to the present day.

About this Object Group
This group of objects features examples from this collection, found in the Division of Medicine and Science at the National Museum of American History. Each entry includes a photo of the object, the product’s name, maker’s name, place of manufacture, and a date range. Ingredients and therapeutic claims are included when indicated on the product packaging.

Browse
Browse the collection by therapeutic category. You can also use the keyword search (at right) which searches all fields of information.

More Information
Learn more about patent medicine history and how this history is revealed in examples from our collection. Questions or comments? Contact us.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Rogers, Fuller & Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1611
catalog number
293320.1611
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the permanent cure of catarrh, headaches, and all nervous pains.This Medicine is taken through a Patent Inhaling Tube, or from the Hand.For Catarrh, Fill the tube with the liquid and insert the bulb
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the permanent cure of catarrh, headaches, and all nervous pains.
This Medicine is taken through a Patent Inhaling Tube, or from the Hand.
For Catarrh, Fill the tube with the liquid and insert the bulb in one nostril, and close the other nostril with the finger, and then snuff as quickly as possible that the liquid may be thrown up high into the head. Repeat the dose til it passes over into the throat. Do this on retiring for the night, and when you get up in the morning. [. . . ]
For Headache, and all Nervous Pain in the Head, Fill the tube as before, and snuff the liquid up the nostrils as high as possible, repeating the dose every few minutes until all pain is removed.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1868 - 1870
maker
Rogers, Fuller and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.3191
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.3191
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1877
maker
L. M. Brock and Company
ID Number
2008.3006.156
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.156
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.293320.1119
catalog number
293320.1119
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1906
maker
King's Pure Malt Department
ID Number
MG.M-10767.10
catalog number
M-10767.10
accession number
256193
256193
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1887
maker
Minard Company
ID Number
2008.3006.153
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.153
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
E.L. Patch Company
ID Number
2002.0138.011
accession number
2002.0138
catalog number
2002.0138.011
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
Tak-A-Lax Co.
ID Number
2008.0018.093
catalog number
2008.0018.093
accession number
2008.0018
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Curing Constitutional HumorsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Curing Constitutional Humors
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Potter Drug and Chemical Corporation
ID Number
2008.3006.122
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.122
For skin afflictions, cuts, burns.Currently not on view
Description
For skin afflictions, cuts, burns.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1876
maker
J.J. Pike and Company
ID Number
1981.0219.059
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.059
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Henry Thayer & Company
ID Number
2005.0100.011
catalog number
2005.0100.011
accession number
2005.0100
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950 - 1970
ca 1948 - 1970
maker
E. L. Patch Company
ID Number
2008.0018.211
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.211
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0516.106
catalog number
1985.0516.106
accession number
1985.0516
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1881
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.3006.154
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.154
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
circa 1900
after 1902
ID Number
2008.0018.033
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.033
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
Puritana Company
ID Number
1984.0782.163
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.163
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the skin and scalp...a super creamy emollient sanative soothing healingCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the skin and scalp...a super creamy emollient sanative soothing healing
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1921
maker
Potter Drug and Chemical Corporation
ID Number
2008.0018.120
catalog number
2008.0018.120
accession number
2008.0018
A mild, efficient cathartic and after-dinner pill. Dose, for laxative effect to relieve sick headache and biliousness, two or three Hood's Pills at night, or morning. For purgative effect, three to six pills with draught of water.Currently not on view
Description
A mild, efficient cathartic and after-dinner pill. Dose, for laxative effect to relieve sick headache and biliousness, two or three Hood's Pills at night, or morning. For purgative effect, three to six pills with draught of water.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920s
maker
C. I. Hood Company
ID Number
1981.0219.075
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.075
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.388689
catalog number
388689
accession number
182022
182022
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
United Drug Company
ID Number
1985.0481.083
catalog number
1985.0481.083
accession number
1985.0481
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Hollis, Thomas
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup71]
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.122
accession number
256193
catalog number
M-10766 [dup71]
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1906
maker
King's Pure Malt Department
ID Number
MG.M-10767 [dup2]
catalog number
M-10767
accession number
256193
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.171
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.171
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.293320.1096
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1096

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